The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-02-09
THE SHIP ISLAND RAILWAY
RAPID PROGRESS BEING MADE
IN ITS CONSTRUCTION.
So Says Vice President Falkner,
Who Also Has Something to Say
About Mr.. JEFF. Davis.

A reporter OF the APPEAL yesterday
called at the Peabody Hotel upon
Col. W. G. FAlkner, president Of the
Ripley Railroad Company and vice
president OF the Ship Island Railroad
Company, and interviewed him as 10
the early completion OF the latter road
and his recent visit to Mr.. Jefferson
Davis.
when did you visit Mr.. Davis ?"
at was on Tuesday last that Mr.. r.
w. Baldwin, Of Baltimore, and Wis
tied Mr.. Davis at his home, which is
five miles east of Mississippi City,
and situated Immediately on the Gulf
coast, about 100 yards from the waters
edge. Beauvoir is a very charming
VILLAGE. The house is a spacious
wooden structure Of square shape,
encircled by broad covered verau Ia,
which affords fine view of the face
of the Gulf. The first floor is about
ten feet above the ground, which is
approached by broad flight Of steps
10 front. The body Of the house is
painted white. The ground in the
vicinity is GOV ared with magnolias and
live oak, whose unfading green leaves
lend an indescribable chirm to the
place. Ii Mr.. Davis could not be
happy at this delightful home, / am
sure he could not be happy anywhere
on earth and if he is not truly happy
he decevts his looks, as well az his
visitors, because / have rarely seen
a face more cheerful than his. / met
him in Richmond when he was Pfesi-
dent Of the Oontederacy. His face
then had hsgpard, Carsworn ex-
preston, and the skin was totally
colorless; but now it is en-
tirely different. Every now and
then, q blight, benevolent smile
would mantle bis features.
His conversation was charming, as
we'll as cheerful and instructive, and
it did not require much time to con-
vince me that he was well up with
everything touching current events
Of the day. To say he Is an industrious
student would convey no new informs-
tioD, but it is my opinion he knows
everything worth knowing about the
worlds movements. An inspection
of bis library convinced me that his
greatness had been displayed in the
selection of books as it has in 80 many
other ways. When Mr.. Baldwin and
l drove up to the gate we saw a man
walking briskly from US on the south
veranda. Els form was very erect,
his shoulders square, the step firm
and vigorous, black felt hat with
broad brim covered his head, and he
was clad in b ack cloth suit, the coat
with square cut skirt terminating
at the knee. An occasional puff OF
blus smoke curled about his
head, rising from the cigar he
now and then placed in his mouth.
] recognized him and he instantly
recognize I'd me. After introducing MIR.
Baldwin, we were invited into the re-
ception room, when box OF excellent
cigars was produced and the converse
ton opened. To say / was captivated
by bis discourse would be q tame ex-
preston, for l was really charmed.
No one could feel embarrassed in his
presence, because hs managed to make
me feel at perfect ease. was aston
ished at the tenscity of bis memory.
He Inquired about men and things of
forty years ago, seeming to remember
incidents that have transpired half a
century back with as much accuracy
as if they had happened bu. yester-
day."
"Did Mr., Davis have anything to
say about the late war;"
''Not a word. The subject of CONVEX
sation was men whose names ere now
prominent before the world, and such
rs have played prominent parts on the
political stage In past days. He seemed
10 have confidence ia the future great
ne's OF this country, and spoke of it
as united nation. The tenor Of his
remarks were Of such character as to
convince one that NO truer pat'iot ever
lived than he. He clings to his State
sovereignty doctrine, and believes it
will prevail in the end that it will not
be established through violence and
blood, by the sense Of justice which
will prevail in the minds of the peo-
pie at no distant day. We were con-
Quoted through his spacious library,
and delighted with his desC ription OF
the paintings that adorned the walls"
"Is Mr.. Davis wealthy? ?"
81 do not know, but am under the
impression he is not, though he has
competency. The income derived
from his book has reached far beyond
his expectations, and rendered him
perfectly independent b. far as money
is concerned"
did you have any reasons to think
that Mr.. Davis assumed a cheerfulness
that he did not really feel p
"No, indeed; on the contrary, it
was plain to see that his mind was en-
loying perfect repose and that his de-
clining years were undisturoed by
trouble OF any sort"
"How is Beauvoir for winter re-
sort?"
"Atout the same as Florida. For pull
monary diseases and cstarrh the
climate is invincible. The Gulf front
is lined with cCzy dwelling houses
that nestle like gems among the green
verdure of the magnolia and live oak.
Here it is where thousands OF business
men in New Orleans retire in sum-
mer to OF ~ the delightful sea breeze
which every day comes stealing in
from the broad face Of the Gulf"
"Where will be the eouthern termi-
nus of the Gulf and Ship Island
road?"
That point has not yet been de-
termined. The government has sent
an engineer to Mi sissippi City to
make thorough survey OF the har'
Dor, and his report will have much to
do in fixing the point for our road to
enter"
lis the harbor considered Of i'm
porlance2 1t is not merely consid
cred important, but it is fact that I
has only two superiors on the CONT
nent of North America. 1t was il
this harbor where the British fee
anchored in 1915, when Rockingham
attempted to capture New Orleans
the same hsroor where Farrsgut an
chored the American feet during tn
lats war"
"Whst is the depth Of the water ?
"Thirty FIVE feet At low tide. Tn
harbor is sheltered by a chain G
islands lying about eight miles fror
the ehore, where largest ocean steam
L aov, oOvaa - onI hnxrn M V,ln mr.